System, method and handheld controller for multi-player gaming

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-player game system comprising:
 a game server configured to run a game software to facilitate a multi-player game, the game server further configured to provide display signals for displaying the multi-player game; 
 a display system having primary display means, the display system being configured to provide a primary game display of the multi-player game on the primary display means in response to the display signals; 
 a plurality of game controllers, each game controller having secondary display means and input means; and 
 communication controller for enabling communication between the game server and each game controller; 
 wherein the plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the primary display means such that the primary display means is visible to game players manipulating respective game controllers; and 
 wherein a game software module is downloaded independently to each game controller prior to initiation of the multi-player game, each game software module executable by the corresponding game controller to enable the corresponding game controller to provide a secondary game display on the secondary display means in response to player input received at the input means, wherein the secondary game display is complementary to the primary game display, and to enable participation in the multi-player game by the corresponding game player. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary display means comprises a large display screen. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary display means and the plurality of game controllers are located within a game arena. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the game arena comprises a large enclosed space. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein each game controller is connected to a respective fixed structure within the game arena. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein each game controller has a power supply located apart from the game controller, the power supply being electrically connected to the game controller through a power supply cable and being mounted to the fixed structure. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein a tether connects each game controller to the respective fixed structure. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tether comprises a flexible retractable cable. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tether at least partly houses the power supply cable. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary game display is at least partially related to the primary game display. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein secondary game images displayed on the secondary display means are different from primary game images displayed on the primary display means. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game display comprises graphical representations of game avatars corresponding to the game players manipulating respective game controllers. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication controller is coupled to a wireless communication means. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication means comprises a wireless transmitter, at least one wireless receiver and a plurality of wireless transceivers in respective game controllers. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless transmitter, the at least one wireless receiver and the plurality of game controllers are located in or adjacent a game arena, the game arena having the primary display means located therein. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless transmitter directionally transmits game data signals toward the game controllers within the game arena. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one wireless receiver comprises at least two wireless receivers and the at least two wireless receivers are spaced around the game arena and are located away from a transmission direction of the wireless transmitter. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , wherein players are represented in the multi-player game by respective avatars, wherein each game controller comprises output means for providing a sensory output to the respective player, wherein the input means includes means for receiving an avatar identification request from a player and each game controller is configured to transmit a communication signal corresponding to the avatar identification request to the game server, and wherein, in response to the communication signal, the game server causes an enhanced visual indication of the respective avatar to be provided on the primary display means substantially simultaneously with the sensory output to the respective player, the sensory output being provided in response to the avatar identification request. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the output means provides at least one of a vibratory, visual and auditory output. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the output means comprises a vibration module, at least one speaker and the secondary display means. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input means comprises a touch-sensitive screen. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input means comprises a movement selection member and a plurality of buttons. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the movement selection member is a joystick. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input means comprises a card reader for receiving player authentication data. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each game controller has a power source located apart from the game controller. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each game controller comprises processing means for processing player input received by the input means, for generating player commands in response to the player input for transmission to the game server via the communication controller and for generating the secondary game display in response to game data received from the game server via the communication controller. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27 , wherein each game controller further includes a transceiver and the respective processing means controls the transceiver to transmit the player commands and to receive the game data. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver and the communication controller is coupled to a wireless communication means. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game server facilitates transmission of messages between game players, the messages being displayable on the secondary display means and being writable using the input means. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30 , wherein the input means comprises a touch-sensitive screen overlaid on the secondary display means and wherein the game controller provides a messaging interface to a respective player using the touch-sensitive screen and the secondary display means. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game software module is downloaded independently to each of the game controllers in response to player input received at the game controller requesting the game software module. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game software module is downloaded independently to at least some of the game controllers using a preregistered account associated with the corresponding game player of each game controller. 
     
     
       34. A multi-player game system comprising:
 a game server configured to run a game software to facilitate a multi-player game, the game server further configured to provide display signals for displaying the multi-player game; 
 a display system having primary display means, the display system being configured to provide a primary game display of the multi-player game on the primary display means in response to the display signals; 
 a plurality of local game controllers, each local game controller having input means for receiving player input relating to the multi-player game, the plurality of local game controllers being located in proximity to the primary display means such that the primary game display is visible to game players manipulating respective local game controllers; 
 communication controller for enabling communication between the game server and each local game controller; and 
 at least one remote game controller located remotely from the primary display means and having secondary display means and input means, the at least one remote game controller being in communication with the game server over a network; 
 wherein a game software module is downloaded to the at least one remote game controller prior to initiation of the multi-player game, the game software module executable by the corresponding remote game controller to enable the corresponding remote game controller to provide a secondary game display on the secondary display means in response to player input received at the input means of the remote game controller, wherein the secondary game display is complementary to the primary game display, and to enable participation in the multi-player game by a corresponding game player. 
 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 34 , wherein each game controller has processing means, the processing means configured to operate the game controller in a multi-player game mode, in which a player manipulating the player input means of the game controller controls an avatar on the primary display and the secondary display means provides a display related to play of the multi-player game, or to operate in a single player activity mode, in which the player conducts a single-player activity on the game controller and the secondary display means provides a display of the single player activity. 
     
     
       36. A multi-player game system comprising:
 a game server configured to run a game software to facilitate a multi-player game, the game server further configured to provide display signals for displaying the multi-player game; 
 a display system having primary display means, the display system being configured to provide a primary game display of the multi-player game on the primary display means in response to the display signals; 
 a plurality of game controllers, each game controller having secondary display means and input means; and 
 communication controller for enabling communication between the game server and each game controller; 
 wherein the plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the primary display means such that the primary display means is visible to game players manipulating respective game controllers; and 
 wherein a game software module is downloaded independently to each game controller prior to initiation of the multi-player game, each game software module executable by the corresponding game controller to facilitate game activities corresponding to the multi-player game, to enable the corresponding game controller to provide a secondary game display on the secondary display means in response to player input received at the input means, wherein the secondary game display is complementary to the primary game display, and to enable participation in the multi-player game by the corresponding game player. 
 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 36 , wherein the game software module is downloaded independently to each of the game controllers in response to player input received at the game controller requesting the game software module. 
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 36 , wherein the game software module is downloaded independently to at least some of the game controllers using a preregistered account associated with the corresponding game player of each game controller.